Highlanders fullback Ben Smith

Ben Smith fit and back again

The All Black co-captain sat out his team's last two games with concussion, after he took a nasty blow to the head in a season opening loss to the Chiefs in Dunedin.

Smith's return is much needed good news for Coach Tony Brown, whose side has been ravaged by injuries through the opening three weeks of the competition. 

However, including season ending injuries to Jason Emery and Hayden Parker, 15 players were unavailable for selection against the Hurricanes.